FIRST SACRAMENT: BAPTISM
Through Baptism we become members of the Church, which is the mystical body of Jesus Christ.
239. Baptism is the first and most necessary of the sacraments, in which we are given the grace and character of Christians.
240. Baptism is the first of the sacraments, because no other sacrament can be validly received before being baptized.
241. Baptism is the most necessary of the sacraments, because those who do not receive it in fact, or at least in desire, cannot be saved.
242. The sacrament of Baptism forgives original sin and every other sin in the person being baptized.
The subject of Baptism is natural water.
Any water, from a well, cistern, river, or fountain, as long as it is water, properly speaking, is suitable for Baptism.
The form of Baptism are the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
243. The ordinary minister of Baptism is the priest.
244. In case of necessity, any man or woman who has the use of reason may baptize.
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Manner of baptizing in case of need
245. In order to baptize, in case of need, natural water is poured on the head of the one to be baptized, saying at the same time with the intention of baptizing: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
The same one who pours out the water must speak the words.
The water should run down the head and touch the skin of the one being baptized.
If the water cannot be poured over the head, it must be poured into another major part of the body; then, if the child lives, the water should be poured on the head saying: "If you are not baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
If it is doubted that the person is dead, he should be baptized on condition, saying, "If you are alive, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
If there are several people present, they must baptize: if there are ecclesiastics, the one of a higher order; if there are no ecclesiastics, the man in preference to the woman, unless the greatest skill or decency demands that it be the woman who baptizes.
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When parents should have their children baptized.
246. Children should be taken to church to be baptized as soon as possible.
The Latin American Council mandates that it should not take more than two, three, or, at most, eight days after birth.
The habit of taking longer is an abuse that must be eliminated.
Baptism should not be deferred even because the godparents are not present, because in that case representatives are appointed.
A newborn child is very exposed to the danger of death, and if he dies without Baptism, he does not go to heaven.
[They go into limbo, where they are happy, because they never made a voluntary sin, but they carry original sin, and they will never be able to see God. Our Lady of the Roses asks us to pray for the children who were taken prematurely out of this world.]
Every good Christian should desire that his children also be children of God and heirs of Heaven, as soon as possible, and they are not so until they have Baptism.
Parents who do not seek to have their children baptized at the proper time, sin.
To delay in doing so is the effect of ignorance or indifference in matters of religion.
[Or unfortunately of infiltrated modernism, where there are priests who do a baptism of several children at the same time, only once a month]
An adult, in order to be baptized, must know the principal mysteries and precepts of the Holy Religion.
If he is in mortal sin, he must make an act of contrition, at least imperfect.
If the adult is baptized without any contrition, he receives only the character of a Christian, but not sanctifying grace.
Baptism is absolutely necessary to be saved.
When water baptism cannot be received, it can be supplied with baptism of desire or blood.
247. In holy Baptism, the one who is baptized makes a promise by himself or through his godparents to believe the teachings of the Church and to live according to them, and to renounce forever to the devil, his works and his pomps, that is, sin and all evil.
Whoever receives Baptism is obliged always to profess the faith and to keep the law of Jesus Christ and of his Church.
When one receives Holy Baptism, one renounces forever the devil, his works and his pomps.
By the works and pomps of the devil, we mean the sins and maxims of the world, contrary to the Holy Gospel.
The one who is baptized is given the name of a Saint, to serve as a protector and example in the Christian life.
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The godparents.
248. The godparents of Baptism are obliged, in the absence of the parents, to see that their godchildren are instructed and educated in a Christian manner.
In Baptism there must be only one godfather or one godmother, or one godfather and one godmother.
Godparents are like spiritual parents: if the parents are absent, they are responsible for the religious education of their godchildren.
In order to be a godparent, it is necessary to:
1º To be baptized and to be 13 years of age or older.
2º To be appointed by the father or by the parish priest.
3º That at the time of baptism he touches the baptized, by himself or through a delegate, with the intention of being godparent.
The following cannot be godparents:
Parents, of their children.
A spouse, of another spouse.
Non-Catholics.
And people who lead a public scandalous life; also counting as such those who live as married with the civil union alone.
The godparents contract a spiritual parentage with the godchild.
This parentage produces an impediment to marriage.
249. Baptism of desire is an act of love for God, with the vehement desire and firm will to do what He has ordained to save us.
250. Baptism of blood is the martyrdom suffered for the faith of Jesus Christ.